| Kansas & Nebraska bone and antler tools, Page 2 |
| Tools like those to the left are interpreted as being awls. They have symmetrical, ground tips which often show dulling or blunting and rejuvenation by grinding. The top is usually rounded and easy to put weight on without hurting your hand, however some were attached to handles and may look sharp or unfinished. |
| The five tools laying horizontally are a common find on river gravel bars is the plains. Made quickly from a fragment of shattered bone and usually used only once, they are referred to as "expedient" tools. These examples were used to perforate hide, but many were used to scrape, chop, poke, stake, pin, and even cut. The piece to the right appears to me to be a fishhook blank. I'll discuss these in the Arkansas River tool section. |
| A nice assortment of Plains bone tools. Most are made of Buffalo bone. Top left is the fish hook blank seen above. Next is a shaft straightener, hump-rib knife handle, flaking tool, unknown tool, small scraper. Bottom row includes basket weaving tools, pottery trowels, and unknown tools. |
| These pins are about as fine as they come. They were found on Kansas watercourses by Kenny Resser |
| These may have been used as hairpins or blanket pins, but I doubt it. They are lethally sharp, and would catch on brush, cloths, or other obstacles and stab the wearer. This actually happened to the only person I ever saw try to wear one. She went to the hospital, and was lucky she wasn't killed. And all she did was try to get in the car! |